Claim Review: Did Big Pharma Choose mRNA Technology Due to Expiring Patents?

The claim that Big Pharma chose to use mRNA technology for COVID-19 vaccines because their patents were nearing expiration has been circulating in various articles and discussions. This claim suggests that the pharmaceutical industry opted for a new and relatively untested technology to secure future profits rather than using established methods with known safety profiles.

To evaluate this claim, it's important to consider the context and the available evidence. The COVID-19 pandemic presented an urgent need for effective vaccines, and mRNA technology offered several advantages. mRNA vaccines can be developed and manufactured more quickly than traditional vaccines, which was crucial in the race against the pandemic. Additionally, mRNA technology allows for rapid adaptation to new variants of the virus.

The article by Jonathan Engler on The Exposé suggests that the choice of mRNA technology was driven by financial motives, specifically the need to replace blockbuster products with pending patent expirations. While it is true that the pharmaceutical industry faces challenges with patent expirations, this alone does not provide sufficient evidence to conclude that it was the primary reason for choosing mRNA technology.

Scientific advancements and the potential of mRNA technology also played a significant role. mRNA vaccines have been in development for decades, and the COVID-19 pandemic provided an opportunity to test and validate this technology on a large scale. The success of mRNA vaccines in clinical trials and their subsequent authorization by regulatory bodies indicate that the choice was based on scientific merit as well as practical considerations.

Furthermore, the claim that mRNA technology has 'zero safety profile' is misleading. While it is true that mRNA vaccines were new to the market, extensive clinical trials and ongoing monitoring have provided substantial data on their safety and efficacy. For example, a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine demonstrated the safety and efficacy of the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine.

In conclusion, the claim that Big Pharma chose mRNA technology for COVID-19 vaccines due to expiring patents is speculative and lacks concrete evidence. The decision was likely influenced by multiple factors, including scientific advancements, the need for rapid vaccine development, and the potential of mRNA technology. The safety and efficacy of mRNA vaccines have been demonstrated through extensive clinical trials and ongoing monitoring.